Introduction

Meetings are very important for the work of any business or organisation. They allow for collective decision-making, planning and follow-up, accountability, democracy and other practices that help build a good organisation.

If meetings are well structured and run in the correct manner, they can help improve the efficiency of the business or the organisation. However, like all organising tools, meetings can be used badly and end up not serving the purpose that they are supposed to. Meetings can also become places where conflict is played out.

Sometimes we attend too many long meetings, which discuss the same thing repeatedly without seeming to move forward. Meetings must have a purpose and should not just be held for the sake of having a meeting.

There must be a need for a meeting and the type of meeting should be structured on what is to be discussed.  For example, some meetings could be to discuss policy decisions while others could be to discuss day-to-day operational issues (practical work).

Meeting Definition

A meeting is a gathering of two or more people to discuss matters of mutual concern, and to take and implement any necessary decisions relating to these matters.